MSU Red Cedar Message Board

Portage is a slightly better area than Kzoo, with far better schools. However, you might want to see if Kzoo still has the "Kalamazoo Promise" where students in the schools get college education paid for. I don't know if that ran out or not. I grew up in Portage, but haven't been back in years, so I'm a bit out of the loop. As far as country clubs, the only one I knew of back then was the Kalamazoo Country Club. But I always golfed at the public courses. Lots of good parks around, and plenty of nature. BORING place, and very conservative, but also pretty safe. Good place for a family with kids.

Stay away from the north side of Kalamazoo. They are a big enough city to have a shitty part of town.

Portage used to be the land of milk and honey prior to the sale(s) of Upjohn. A majority of Upjohn was in Portage and the district was well funded. They just wrapped up major renovations to most or all of their schools but more of the bill is being paid by homeowners than in the past.

If you have 2 young kids Portage is nice because its got some nice neigborhoods. However there are places in Kalamazoo that also have very nice neighborhoods with 30 somethings / school age and younger children and KPS has The Kalamazoo Promise. Mattawan is also very popular and has quality schools.

Kalamazoo has WMU and they bring a lot of the same entertainment MSU brings to Wharton.

Given that information I would take a serious look at Matawan school district and Portage.

where are you coming from?

Matawan = land of the enchanted beaver.

Don't get a house in the Woodbridge Hills area. People will think you are a snob. Same goes for if you get a place in the Colony Woods neighborhood. Portage Central High School is/was known has heroine high. Thats the school where all the rich snobby kids go to. Portage Northern is the weed school. Most the kids who go there are freakin' weird as shit and smoke a shit ton of weed. West Middle school is the best because West is the best except its the the Woodbridge Hills area. Westnedge Ave is the worst road in the history of this nation. Kalamazoo Beer Exchange is the best concept ever. (But thats in Kalamazoo) Okland Park's hill is pussy shit for sledding in the winter time. The speed limit on Centre Street is 40, 45, and 35 in some areas but please drive 60 - that shit is really a drag strip and you can drive as fast as you want. Thank me later. Stay away from Mattawan - a bunch of hicks.

Weed School...that's weird. Why is it known as that? There was plenty of people smoking weed in the 90s when I was there but I never heard "Weed School" or "Heroine School".

I just had a friends sell their home in the Texas Township area. Right now its a good time to buy. Bought their house in 2005 for $429K just sold it for $290K. A lot of nice homes in the tweener range ($200K-$300K) that used to be $300K-$450K. Good time to move in before MPI gets started again and property values start to climb.

Mattawan is a a nice place. Google their school district map. Might be a good fit.

ps
I have several friends who live or have lived in the Woodbridge development. 10-20 years ago it was the next new thing. Go into some of the older sections and you'll see its more about the address than the quality of the homes.

My husband and I currently live in Oshtemo. Great area. You avoid city taxes, get more land, are close to everything, and still get the Kalamazoo promise. The schools in our area of Kalamazoo public are good. You can look at the Michigan.gov website to see test scores. Portage is a good area, but it is similar to how we view UofM. The people are pretty arrogant and look down on everyone else when they really have no reason to act that way. I would look at the Oshtemo and Texas township area. Really nice homes, reasonably priced, and low taxes.

I lived in Portage on two occasions in the late 90's and mid 2000's. I would say many of the posts so far are fairly accurate. The Portage area is considered to have the better schools in general vs. Kalamazoo and the surrounding areas. Many people that I know send their kids to priviate schools which are also pretty good in the area. Mattawan is likely the fastest growing area with and you can get new homes for reasonable prices. However, Matawan has zero diversity if that matters to you.
Portage is very conservative and many describe it as a place that life is on hold. Not much excitement but lot's of stability for day to day life. You will need to go to Grand Rapids for supplies (fashion, concerts, etc.) Kalamazoo, surprisingly has a few decent resturants (Food Dance, Zazio's, Wine loft, etc) and a club called the Union that is great for jazz. You'll have to get input from someone else for country music. Since you will be there only two years it will be a good stop. If you were going to be there long term, you would struggle if you are from a larger city.

My 2 cents.

Wow, no mention of Bell's beer in the entire thread. Until now.

Keith Stone is wrong about Woodbridge and spartangreen is wrong about portage. Theres no arrogance and the people are very friendly. To Keith Stone's comments, if living in a safe neighborhood with friendly neighbors located right next to 2 good public schools is snobbish then you need to get your head checked.

The "snob" area would be Oak Shores.